Career Resolutions For 2002

Have the right attitude Project the right attitude and marvel at the results. The manner in which you conduct yourself at work makes more of an impression on others than any technical skill or individual accomplishment. Carry yourself in a way that will garner positive recognition from colleagues and superiors. A cool and confident demeanor combined with a dedicated focus will do it every time. And with the right system, you will not have to fake it.

Have and command respect Have respect for yourself, for your peers, for the system, and for the work. It is, in essence, a part of your attitude but is worthy of distinction. This is never more true than for those of you who are stuck in a career that is less than desirable or is falling short of expectations.

Stay the course and avoid lapsing into self-destructive habits. Resolve instead to continue on with a steadfast commitment to excel until a more appealing alternative is found, keeping in mind that your present actions impact your future position.

Set goals When the opportunity is presented and the workload has become daunting and onerous, set an achievable milestone for yourself in a realistic time period. Divide major tasks into manageable chunks in order to save energy, time and sanity.

Setting goals for your career should be regarded with equal, if not more importance. Where do you see yourself at the end of the year? Search your soul for the answer and resolve to make it happen.

Become a better people person Think about your present routine at work. Do you hibernate in your cubicle or office, deriving solace from the glow of the computer screen, escaping on occasion for a caffeine fix or the bathroom and avoiding eye contact like dental surgery?

If I just described your day-to-day existence on the job, you need to make a resolution to change now before you become a living Dilbert comic strip. A refined set of interpersonal skills is the primary ingredient toward career advancement and fulfillment. You may have the ability to deconstruct and translate a thousand lines of code, but if you cannot carry on a conversation with your project manager over lunch, you will be programming for life while a more amiable counterpart is promoted to vice president.

Do yourself a favor and mingle like Mary Hart at a Hollywood premiere. Hang out by the water cooler or espresso machine. Find out what other people in the company do, how they do it and whether they enjoy it. Organize and participate in social events outside of the office environment. Try to socialize with your boss on acceptable business terms. Get to know what he or she is like on a personal level and share information about your life from time to time as well.

You are more liable to win sympathy and curry favor if you have made the effort to build relationships with the people around you. The proverbial office hermit may have a Mensa membership, but will face a difficult road without any friends. Resolve to network at work today.

stick to resolutions

Resolutions are effective motivating tools when they are publicized in a direct and explicit manner. When you resolve to make a change in your career, write it down in specific terms and share it with someone you respect. Being accountable to yourself is important, but the satisfaction of proving to another that you can stick to a resolution is great incentive as well.

In addition, it is crucial that the resolution be like the last few repetitions of a set of abdominal crunches — challenging, but not impossible. Keep it realistic so that you do not discourage yourself and run out of steam by March.